Giant panda at DC zoo celebrates fifth birthday with shark-themed partyOne of the National Zoo’s giant pandas celebrated a milestone birthday Tuesday evening. Bao Li, who arrived from China in October 2024, celebrated his fifth birthday, with crowds gathered to watch the “bearthday” boy dig into his special fruitsicle cake, the zoo said. “He is always in a lively, playful mood,” giant panda keeper Mariel Lally said in a statement. “If you aren’t sure what an overjoyed laughing giant panda looks like, keep your eye out for when Bao Li puts his forelimb in his mouth and shakes it around. If you missed the celebration, the zoo will have another birthday celebration for its other giant panda, Qing Bao, on Sept. 12.